Prevalence and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms in Women of Different Ages — China, 2023–2024

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms among Chinese women aged 40–60 years and provide evidence for developing personalized health management strategies. Methods: Using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey across representative provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) and prefecture-level cities, encompassing 26 district/county survey sites. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, menopausal status, and symptoms. Data analysis employed means and standard deviations (X±S) or rates and proportion ratios to describe menopausal symptom occurrence, with group differences analyzed using Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: The study included 42,304 women with a mean age of 49.9±5.7 years. The overall prevalence of menopausal symptoms was 46.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 45.8%, 46.7%], predominantly mild to moderate in severity. The prevalence of mild to severe symptoms began increasing in women over age 44, peaking at age 52. Moderate to severe symptoms showed an uptick after age 46, also peaking at 52 years, while severe symptoms increased after age 48, reaching maximum prevalence at age 56. The most commonly reported symptoms were insomnia (50.0%, 95% CI: 49.5%, 50.5%), fatigue (48.2%, 95% CI: 47.7%, 48.7%), and nervousness (46.9%, 95% CI: 46.5%, 47.4%). Significant differences in symptom severity between premenopausal and postmenopausal women were observed in the 45–49 (P<0.001) and 50–54 (P=0.019 <0.05) age groups. Conclusions: The study revealed distinct patterns in the prevalence, severity, and manifestation of menopausal symptoms across different age groups in China. The age-related progression of symptoms provides a scientific foundation for developing targeted healthcare interventions for women at various stages of menopause.